Municipal service post



Dec. 31, 1935. H. F. HEYDE 2,026,385

MUNICIPAL SERVICE POST Filed April 4, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I mucE IN V EN TOR.

Henry F. Hezyda A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 31, 1935.

H. F. HEYDE Filed April -4, 1952 J 55 2 a e 34 J7 4 55 40 .55 3 I v 1 a K lflCDCDGDGDfiIf 41' u 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Henry HEZ/ljE A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 31, 1935. H. F. HEYDE v MUNICIPAL SERVICE POST Filed April 4, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fj m15 Q INVENTOR. Henry F HEL/UE A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE Wisconsin Application April 4, 1932, serial No. 603,136 1 Claim. (01. 177-377) This invention relates to municipal service P sts.

The post to which the invention applies in particular is of a type providing a unitary housing for several pieces of apparatus, such as fire alarm equipment, police signal and. telephone equipment, and general telephone equipment, and. in which the interior of the housing is subdivided by partitions so arranged as to prevent access to the several individual pieces, except through separate doors, The doors are ordinarily controlled by separate individual locks.

, The housing is ordinarily mounted upon a hollow pedestal formedto provide a protective ,enclosure for the various electrical conductors which lead therethrough to the apparatus contained in the housing and, to facilitate erection .and handling, the pedestal and housing are ordinarily separately formed and separably connected. A removable section or panel, which ordinarily extends substantially the length of the pedestal :andthrough the base thereof, affords access to the wiring contained therein.

general aim of the present invention is to simplify and otherwise improve the construction of municipal service posts of the type mentioned and -to better adapt the same for the uses .intended.

A more specific object .is to subdivide the :interior of the apparatus housing in a novel and improved manner by partitioning means of simple andieconomical design capable of preventing acce'ss to eachpiec'e of apparatus except through the particular door associated therewith.

' Another specific object is the provision of'novel andimproved means for mounting'the' several .pieces-"rof apparatus so designed .as to facilitate assembly, inspection, and replacement thereof.

Another specific object is the provision of a municipal service post comprising a plurality of separable seotions'joined in a. novel and im- :proved manner soas'to prevent separation of the sections except by one having authorized access to the interior of the post.

Another object is the provision of 'noveltand improved fire alarm mechanism :for municipal service posts so designed as to simplify and expedite the transmission of fire alarm signals;

,Otherobjects andadvantages will appear :from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. 7

In the accompanying :drawings:--

Figure 1 'isa'front elevation, partly in section, of'la municipal service post constructedin ac- -cordancewith the present invention.

preferably provided with Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly insection.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are horizontal sectional views of the pedestal and base taken substantially along the lines 3-3, 4-4,, and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation, partlyin section, of a flashingsignal which may be substituted for the top ornament shown in Figs. .1 and 2.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal sectional view ofv the apparatus housing, taken substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig.1;

,Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view. :taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig- 7..

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9,9;of Fig. '7.

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary view the base.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view in elevation of of a mounting means shown particularlyv in .Fig. -8,-showing the same on. a somewhat. larger scale.

Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of the fire alarm control mechanism, shown particularly .in .Figs. 1 4, 15 and 16, and illustrating the operation thereof.

Fig. 14 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of theinner side of the fire alarm door, with fire alarm control mechanism mounted thereon.

Figs. 15 and 16, are side .views of the fir.e:alarm control mechanism shown in Fig. 14. Fig. .;16 includes additionally the housing for the fire alarm telegraphing instrument, .shown inFigs. 2 and 8, and illustrating the relation of the control mechanism thereto.

in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a hollowflpedestal .lB,

enlarged at the lower end to provide an appro- .priate hollow base ll, and also enlarged atthe upper end to provide an appropriatesupporlt l2 for thehapparatus housing 1.3. The base 1! is notches I4 in the bottom rim thereof to permit'the free escape-of any moisture that may find its way into the-pedestal.

The pedestal provides a weather proof enclosure for electric wiring which. leads upwardly theretlirough to' the housing 1.3, and .to. afford ready access to this wiring the pedestal is prolvidedwitha removable section or panel 15 which extends downwardly fromv the bottom of portion -I-2 to and'through the base II. The panel 15 :isfashioned to match the contourlo'f. the pedestal and, is countersunk' thereinto. The panel is seated, at its-upper end, againsta depressed face or flange l6 and, along its edges, against .de-

pressedlfianges it! which latterrextend' downwardly into the base I I and terminate against an inwardly directed oifset shoulder l8 formed in the base immediately above the rim thereof. (See Fig. 10.) The lower end of the panel is reduced to form a tongue l9, which fits into the rim of the base, and to form ofiset shoulders20, which abut the shoulders 18, thus providing an interlocking stepped joint between the panel and base. The upper end of the panel is releasably secured in position by an appropriate lock 21 which coacts with the inner face of the top flange IS.

The apparatus housing shown is of cylindrical form, the lower edge thereof being seated upon an inturned flange 22, formed upon the portion I2 of the pedestal, and being centered by an upturned internal flange 23 formed along the outer edge of flange 22. A weatherproof joint is thus provided between the housing and pedestal. Appropriate means such as screws 24 which extend through the flange 23 and into the base ring on the housing prevent separation of the housing from the pedestal except by access through the interior of one of them.

The housing is closed at the bottom by a circular plate 25, which rests loosely upon the flange 23, and an appropriate canopy 26 closes the top thereof. The canopy is provided with an internal rib 27, which seats upon the top rim of the housing, and with a depending external flange 28 which provides a water shed and protective covering for the joint between the canopy and housing. Screws 29 in internal lugs 30 and 30' formed in the canopy and housing prevent separation thereof except through the interior of the housing.

The canopy may be equipped with an ornamental knob, such as shown at 3| in Figs. 1 and 2, or with a flashing signal of a well known type, such as shown at 3| in Fig. 6.

As indicated, particularly in Fig. 7, the interior of the housing I3 is subdivided by appropriate partitioning means to provide three separate compartments for the individual housing of fire alarm apparatus 32, police signal and telephone apparatus 33, and general telephone apparatus 34, access to which may be had only through separate doors 35, 36 and 31, respectively. Each door is hinged, as at 38, and each is provided with a separately controlled lock 39 of any standard or approved type.

The partitioning means shown is separately formed and installed and provides a convenient mounting for the several pieces of apparatus. This partitioning means includes a vertical plate 40 which rests upon the bottom plate 25, hereinabove mentioned, and which is sustained in upright position by slotted lugs 4| formed in the housing and slidably engaging the edges of the vertical plate. This plate constitutes a support for the fire alarm apparatus contained in the housing 32, and for this purpose is provided with key-hole slots 42 for releasably receiving supporting studs or screws 43 provided on the rear wall of the fire alarm housing 32, as indicated particularly in Fig. 16. The housing 32 is additionally supported by a bracket 44 fixed to the plate 40.

The plate 40 also supports a fuse and test panel 45 which in this instance is equipped with a plurality of jack plugs 46, each of which is releasably engageable within one of a plurality of jack receptacles 4'! with which the plate 46 is provided. The separate jack plugs and coacting receptacles together provide a releasable support for the panel 45 and also provide separate electrical connections for the fuses, etc., carried by the panel. (See Fig. 11.) Each receptacle is provided with a threaded stem 41, mounted in insulator bushings 48 in the'plate 49, and forming fixed binding posts for the wiring. The panel 45, with the parts 5 carried thereby, may be removed as a unit without disturbing the connections with the binding posts 41.

Additional upright partitioning plates 49 and 50 support the police signal and telephone appa- 10 ratus 33 and the general telephone apparatus 34, respectively. Each of these plates rests upon the bottom plate 25 and is positioned by an appropriate stop 5| fixed to the bottom plate. Each is also provided at its upright edges with headed 15 studs or screws 52 for releasable engagement within key-hole slots 53 formed in upright bracket strips 55 and 56, (see Fig. 9). Strips 55 are fixed to the vertical plate 49. One of the strips 56 is formed as an integral part of a vertical plate 20 51 and the other strip 56 is fixed thereto. Plate 5'! is releasably engaged within slotted lugs 59, projecting inwardly from the housing 13, and at its lower end is provided with a tongue 60 which interlocks with a slot in the bottom plate 25. 25

The several vertical partition plates, interlocked in the manner described, provide a readily assembled and readily dismantled structure for rigidly supporting the several pieces of apparatus and for segregating them in such manner 30 that each piece of apparatus is accessible only through the door of its individual compartment.

The fire alarm apparatus contained within the housing 32 is of a well known type and includes a conventional telegraph mechanism which is 35 controlled by a depressible lever 6| in a well known manner. In this instance the lever 6| is controlled by novel mechanism, such as will now be described, mounted upon the door 35. As indicated, particularly in Figs. 12 to 16, this 40 mechanism includes a hand lever 62 pinned or otherwise fixed to a rock shaft 63 journalled in the door 35. The handle 62 normally assumes an upright position within an external pocket or chamber 64 formed in the door. A lug 65,45 formed on the hub portion 66 of the handle, coacts with a stop shoulder 61, formed in the base of the pocket 64, limits the downward swing of the handle, as indicated in Fig. 13.

A trip element 68 fixed to one end of the rock 60 shaft 63 coacts with the tail 69 of a bell-crank which is rockably mounted upon a stud 10 immediately above the element 68. A leaf spring 1| fixed at one end 72 to the bellcrank extends thereover and, when the door 35 is closed, 55 the end 13 of the spring projects over the end of the lever 61. The free end 13 of the spring is vertically adjustable by operation of a screw 14 carried by the bell-crank and engageable within the spring. A spring 15 mounted on the in- 60 side of the door 35 presses against the tail 69 of the bell-crank to yieldably retain the same in the position shown in Fig. 12.

The arrangement is such that when the hand lever 62 is swung downwardly the trip element 68 acts against the tail 69 of the bell-crank to rock the same clockwise (Fig. 13) and thereby cause the lever 6| to be depressed by the end 13 of the spring H to thereby set the fire alarm telegraph mechanism into operation. This action of the lever 6| may be advanced or delayed by adjustment of the screw 14.

The fire alarm apparatus also includes an audible signal in the form of a bell 16 mounted M upon the inside of .the door,35 and sounded by 76 the usual hammer I1 energized in the usual manner by a conventional spring motor contained in the housing 18, also mounted on the inside of the door. The hammer 11 is controlled by a stop lever 19 which is rockably mounted upon a stud 19 anchored in the door. In this instance one end of the lever 19 is connected with the upper end of a control rod 80, guided for lengthwise movement in a pair of appropriate brackets 8|. A spring 82 seated on the upper bracket 8| and connected with the rod urges the rod upwardly. A spring detent 83, mounted on the lower bracket 8| coacts with a notch 84 in the rod to releasably retain the same in the lower position of Fig. 12, in which position the hammer 11 is retained inactive by the lever 19. The bell-crank carries a laterally extending arm 85, adapted to strike and trip the detent 83 when the bell-crank is rocked, to thereby release the rod 80. When this occurs the rod is shifted upwardly by the spring 82 to thereby rock the lever 19 in such direction as to release the hammer l1 and thus sound the audible alarm.

It will thus be noted that whenever the hand lever 62 is swung downwardly from its normal upright position, the telegraphic instrument is rendered active and the audible signal is sound ed both in response to the resultant rocking action of the bell-crank. It will also be noted that by adjustment of the screw 14 the telegraphic instrument may be rendered active simultaneously with the sounding of the audible signal 5 or before or after the bell is sounded.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:-

In a municipal service post having a housing, the combination of an upright plate extending thereacross, guide lugs projecting hori- 15 zontally from the walls of said housing into interlocking engagement with said plate to sustain the same, a, second upright plate at right angles to said first plate and spaced therefrom, guide lugs projecting horizontally from the walls of 20 said housing into interlocking engagement with said second plate, a pair of upright plates extending diagonally from said second plate to spaced points on said first named plate, and separable interlocking connections between all 25 of said plates. l

HENRY F. HEYDE. 

